We have updated installers to fix this issue. For those who have bought the software after January 1, 2013, you are eligible for a free upgrade. If you bought it prior to January 1, 2013, then you are eligible for a discounted upgrade (Click here to purchase the upgrade from Robomatter).

1. Name used to order2. Email address used to order3. Order Number (If you ordered from LEGO Education, please let us know!)4. (Optional) You can also fax your receipt to 412-963-7317.

The more information you provide us, the faster we will be able to get the updated installer to you!

If you have already received this updated installer and are using Mac OSX 10.7-10.10 and Safari, please use the following instructions to fix your issue [PDF]

Why aren’t the videos showing up when I click on the button?

During installation of a Robotics Academy curriculum software, there’s is a “safe file” that gets executed. If for any reason there is an issue with running this safe file (for example, you don’t have enough privelages as a user to install) then this will not be installed. The safe file allows Flash to run code that tells your computer that it is “safe” to run specific commands (like opening another browser window for a pop-up video).

If there is a problem with the safe file installation, the videos will not show up.

Manual fix for Mac OSX running an older version of Flash Player

The following table links to instructions that may fix the issue on your mac:

Our products are fully tested and guaranteed to be 100% virus and spyware/malware free – Some less popular anti-virus software packages may detect the mixture of Web and Flash content as a virus, but these reports are false positives and should be reported to the manufacture of your Virus software as such.

If you receive an error during activation, then it could be for one of several reasons. Here is a listing below of the error codes and their meanings. Please click on the error you are receiving and see how to resolve the issue:

Error 2

Could Not Communicate With License Server

Cause: The computer you are using is not connected to the internet (or is having internet connectivity issues).

1. Type in your License ID and Password 2. Use the two codes to produce one Activation code 3. Type in the Activation code on the computer you are trying to activate.

Error 7

No Activations Left for this License

Cause: The License ID you are trying to activate with has been activated on too many computers.Solution: Contact customer support at customerservice@robomatter.com.

Error 13

Firewall or Trouble Communicating with License Server

Cause: The License password is invalid or could not communicate with the server.

Solution: Check the License ID and Password to make sure it was typed in correctly. Connect to the internet on the computer you are trying to activate, or go on a computer that does have the internet and go to this URL: http://secure.softwarekey.com/SOLO/unlock/

1. Type in your License ID and Password 2. Use the two codes to produce one Activation code 3. Type in the Activation code on the computer you are trying to activate.

Solution: Check the activation code to make sure it was typed in correctly. Make sure that you have the right code by going to a computer that does have the internet and go to this URL: http://secure.softwarekey.com/SOLO/unlock/

1. Type in your License ID and Password 2. Use the two codes to produce one Activation code 3. Type in the Activation code on the computer you are trying to activate.

Error 100

Invalid License ID or Password

Cause: Invalid License ID or Password.

Solution: Check your License ID and Password and make sure you typed it in correctly.

1. Copy over the files to the computer and create shortcuts to the “index.htm” file. 2. Creates the Flash Safe File.

You’ll need to ensure that you have flash already installed on the machine to make the installer be the most effective.

For a server distribution, you can install the product on any workstation/server and then move the installed files to your network location that is shared. Flash player is very particular that it does not accept UNC addresses for “safe” locations – on the workstation itself you will have to make sure that the shared folder is mounted to a drive letter to allow the safe file to take effect.

On the individual workstations, you will have to specific the “safe” locations for flash to be allowed to load local content. You can do this by running the “fix safe file.bat” script that lives inside of the product’s folder (note you’ll have to run as administrator as it creates a text file in your system directories) or you can manually create/drop this file using this process:

Robotics Engineering Volume 1 offers different lesson plans that can take 1, 3, or 6 weeks.

ROBOTC FAQ/Support

Here you can find general ROBOTC questions. Click on the questions or topics to get more information. If you don’t find the answer to your question here, feel free to take a look at the ROBOTC Forums. You will find a very active online community of ROBOTC users. You will most likely find the answer to your questions there.

ROBOTC will work on a Mac with any of the Windows Virtualization/Emulation software packages that are available, example software includes Parallels, VM Ware Fusion, Boot Camp and Virtual Box.

Once the software is installed, installation and activation are exactly the same as on a normal Windows PC. Please see your software’s documentation regarding connecting your USB devices to your virtual environment.

If you receive an error during activation, then it could be for one of several reasons. Here is a listing below of the error codes and their meanings. Please click on the error you are receiving and see how to resolve the issue.

Error 2

Could Not Communicate With License Server

Cause: The computer you are using is not connected to the internet (or is having internet connectivity issues).

Cause: The License password is invalid or could not communicate with the server.

Solution: Check the License ID and Password to make sure it was typed in correctly. Connect to the internet on the computer you are trying to activate, or go on a computer that does have the internet and go to this URL: http://secure.softwarekey.com/SOLO/unlock/

1. Type in your License ID and Password 2. Use the two codes to produce one Activation code 3. Type in the Activation code on the computer you are trying to activate.

Solution: Check the activation code to make sure it was typed in correctly. Make sure that you have the right code by going to a computer that does have the internet and go to this URL: http://secure.softwarekey.com/SOLO/unlock/

1. Type in your License ID and Password 2. Use the two codes to produce one Activation code 3. Type in the Activation code on the computer you are trying to activate.

Error 5008 (Formerly 100)

Invalid License ID or Password

Cause: Invalid License ID or Password.

Solution: Check your License ID and Password and make sure you typed it in correctly.

Other Error Codes and Definitions

Error 5006

Security Check Failure

Cause: This occurs when too many failed activation attempts are made in a short period.

Solution: On the License Details page there is a Reset Activation Check button that will clear the temporary block.

Error 5010 (Formerly 200)

N/A

Cause: The user is attempting to activate with a License ID for a different product.

Solution: Make sure you are activating for the correct product. If the product is incorrect, please contact customer support at customerservice@robomatter.com.

Error 5012

Invalid Product Version

Cause: The version of the application is less than the Minimum Activation Version specified on the Product Option.

Yes, you must make sure that you UNINSTALL all previous versions of ROBOTC first. Otherwise, ROBOTC will not run correctly. If you happen to install two versions of ROBOTC onto your computer, simply uninstall both versions. Once all versions are removed, install the latest version of ROBOTC onto your computer.

ROBOTC currently allows Single-User licenses to install ROBOTC on up to three different computers. We understand that most users now have multiple computers in their household. This is to accomodate that. If, however, you have used all three activations then you can simply email support@robotc.net to ask for more activations. Please keep in mind that we track all renewed activations to prevent abuse of this policy.

If you happened to have bought ROBOTC for Mindstorms, but realized that you actually wanted to buy ROBOTC for IFI because you only only VEX hardware then you will have to contact us with your License ID and Password that you received. This is assuming that you haven’t activated your software yet. Contact support@robotc.net and we will switch it.

You must make sure that you UNINSTALL all previous versions of ROBOTC for Mindstorms first. Otherwise, ROBOTC will not run correctly. If you happen to install two versions of ROBOTC onto your computer, simply uninstall both versions. Once all versions are removed, install the latest version of ROBOTC onto your computer.

I have a VEX kit with 2-wire motors. Some of the building instructions call for the 3-wire motors with slip clutches. Are the slip clutches needed for the 2-wire motors? Also, how do I make up for the loss in the axle length?

Solution:

The VEX 2-wire motors are better engineered and do not require a slip clutch. VEX kits are now packaged with “Shaft Couplers” to make up for the loss in axle length.

I have a VEX kit with 2-wire motors. Some of the building instructions show 3-wire motors being plugged directly into the micro-controller. Can I plug the 2-wire motors directly into the micro-controller?

Solution:

The 2-wire VEX motors cannot be plugged directly into any of the 3-wire motor ports, on the VEX PIC or the VEX Cortex. The 2-wire motors can be plugged into motor ports 1 and 10 on the VEX Cortex, which are 2-wire ports. For all other motor ports, you must use a VEX Motor Controller 29 to connect your micro-controller to the 2-wire motors.

We just received & tried the battery expander pack. However when we tried to run the robot using the debugger competition switch & also the black $20 competition switch, nothing runs in autonomous. It twitches when you hit autonomous twice on the debugger switch & when you flip the black competition switch to enable. We even lifted the robot to make sure the wheels weren’t caught but our autonomous code doesn’t run. Yet when we flip the black competition switch to user control everything runs as it should. Any idea what could be wrong? We’re going to try to reconnect the motors directly to the prcessor tomorrow to see if it runs again to make sure it is not our code but it was running okay earlier.

Solution:

The most common problem with using the VEX Power Expander creeps in when people use the non-keyed PWM extension cables. That lets them get the PWM cable black and white wires reversed. The picture showing the interconnect wiring on the wiki site: http://www.vexforum.com/wiki/index.php/Power_Expander adds to the confusion. Hopefully the picture will be fixed by the time you get to class. For now, you can use the attached sketch, doc073.pdf, as a starting point. The main point to remember is “When using Non-Keyed PWM Cables on the VEX Power Expander, the Gnd/Blk wire should be closest to the key slot on the STATUS and IN Ports, and it should be the furthest from the key slot on the OUT ports”. Also connect the Power Expander IN ports to the VEX Microcontroller MOTOR ports and connect the Power Expander OUT ports to the new motors.

General Purchasing FAQ/Questions

Here you can find general purchasing questions. Click on the questions or topics to get more information.

• Education includes the rechargeable battery• Education and the OLD retail set include balloon tires; retail 2.0 does not• Retail 2.0 contains treads and flat tires, education and old retail don’t• Only education has the pulley tires• Education and old retail include light sensors; retail 2.0 includes a color sensor instead• Education and old retail include a sound sensor; retail 2.0 does not• Only education includes a minifig

The content of the home school version and the classroom version are both the same. The home school version restricts the number of times that you can install it. Since the content is exactly the same there’s no extras involved.

We have tested the installation for our curriculum products and found that they all install without any issue. Please let us know if you do have any issues with it by emailing us at customerservice@robomatter.com.

“Crystals” are what the original VEX robots use in order to communicate with the Transmitter. It is a 75MHz Radio Frequency crystal.

VEXnet is an 802.11 WiFi replacement for the crystal-based communication system between the VEX Microcontroller and Radio Control Transmitter. The VEXnet Upgrade enables users to convert existing Microcontrollers and Transmitters to the VEXnet communication system.

Several of our curriculum products incorporate some section of STEM into its scope and sequence. However, there are products that are more STEM focused than others. For example, Robotics Engineering Vol. I uses LEGO Mindstorms NXT robots to learn how to program basic robot behaviors.